There were some hard and harsh words spoken at a Nashua Cape Cobras team meeting at Newlands on Tuesday. The defending champions emerged from that indaba determined to erase the bad memories of their recent eight-wicket thrashing at the hands of the Sunfoil Dolphins, and fiercely focused on moving steadily up from the basement of the log to mid-table in the domestic Sunfoil Series.

Afterwards, Justin Ontong, the Cobras captain, expressed his dismay at the disappointing performances of the top- and middle-order. “At the team meeting, we expressed the important of big partnerships in the next few games. “It is not acceptable that we are the defending champions, yet we are languishing at the bottom of the log. “We are determined to not finish at the bottom,” he said. Although Ontong admitted that poor performances with the bat contributed to their defeats, he also lamented the mediocre bowling which allowed other teams to amass big first-innings total at the start of the season’s four-day campaign. The skipper missed the previous Sunfoil Series game against the Dolphins due to the birth of his daughter, Emily. He will return to the team with two other senior stalwarts, Robin Peterson and Justin Kemp for the Sunfoil Series match against the Chevrolet Warriors at the Newlands cricket ground. The trio could make a massive difference to the team. Kemp and Peterson are both all-rounders who can score centuries, while potentially taking five-wicket hauls in an innings. Ontong has yet to score a first-class century this season. He struck 94 in his first Sunfoil Series match of the season, against the bizhub Highveld Lions. “It is important that we re-establish the winning momentum in the four-day competition,” said Ontong. The Cobras will require an improvement in their mental decision-making in the four-day competition. Occasionally, the top-order has made quick starts, only to surrender their wickets through soft dismissals in the moment critique. The Cobras only have three representatives amongst the top-20 averaging batsmen in the country. Dane Vilas is at number 14, averaging 44.30. Ontong is at number 16 and Stiaan van Zyl at number 20 The Cobras squad for the Sunfoil Series match against the Warriors starting on Thursday, will be announced on Wednesday.